Accueil

WHO launches Emergency cholera response as cholera risks increase in Syria

Imprimer PDF

WHO launches emergency cholera response as cases resurge in SyriaA WHO staff member collects a water sample for testing in Al-Hol camp to help ensure safe drinking water for displaced families. Photo: WHO

21 May 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – With cholera cases resurging across parts of Syria in late 2024 and rising outbreak risks as warm weather returns to the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a 6-month emergency health and WASH response to protect more than 850 000 people at highest risk in Aleppo, Lattakia, Al-Hasakeh and Damascus.

Between August and December 2024, Syria reported 1444 suspected cholera cases and 7 associated deaths, with the highest caseloads in Lattakia, Al-Hasakeh and Aleppo and displacement sites such as Al-Hol camp. The outbreak is linked to ongoing drought, population movement and repeated disruptions to water and sanitation systems.

WHO’s response combines targeted health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, focusing on early detection, case investigation, cholera diagnostics and the deployment of rapid response teams to high-risk areas. The response also includes risk communication, infection prevention and control, and sustained water quality monitoring. Water purification tablets and testing kits will be distributed to reduce the risk of transmission from unsafe sources.

“This response is designed to catch outbreaks early, isolate risks quickly and help communities protect themselves,” said Acting WHO Representative in Syria Christina Bethke. “We are strengthening surveillance through the Early Warning Alert and Response System (EWARS), expanding lab capacity to confirm cholera cases faster and supporting health workers and volunteers to respond in real time. In parallel, we’re enhancing water safety testing in camps and communities, equipping teams with purification tools and delivering key health messages to reduce exposure risks.”

The intervention, which supports national efforts to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response, together with public health recovery, is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, water authorities and local authorities. Activities include refresher training for laboratory staff, improved inter-ministerial coordination and localized action in more than 40 informal settlements and displacement sites.

This response has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF) a multi-donor mechanism managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that enables rapid, flexible funding for frontline health and humanitarian partners based on local needs.

Media contact:

Halah Kabash, Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.

WHO supports Syria set health research priorities

Imprimer PDF

WHO supports Syria set health research priorities

7 May 2025, Syrian Arab Republic – The Centre of Strategic Studies and Health Training (CSHT) and the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the WHO Country Office in Syria, convened a workshop on 28 April 2025 in Damascus to identify Syria’s public health research priorities. The event aimed to strengthen Syria’s health research agenda by aligning it with current public health needs.

The workshop, technically and financially supported by WHO, brought together public health experts, researchers, policy-makers and representatives from national institutions to participate in a structured research prioritization exercise. The process focused on four key areas: health systems; communicable diseases; noncommunicable diseases and universal health coverage. Participants reviewed and discussed an extensive list of research topics identified through earlier consultations and assessed each of them based on public health relevance and technical and operational feasibility.

“This workshop marks a significant milestone in strengthening Syria’s national health research agenda,” said Acting WHO Representative in Syria Ms Christina Bethke. “By identifying research priorities that are both feasible and impactful, Syria is taking an important step towards ensuring that evidence guides decision-making and supports equitable and people-centered health policies. WHO remains committed to supporting national partners in translating these priorities into action.”

The process followed WHO recommended methodology, including group discussions and individual scoring, for setting health research priorities in each focus area, ensuring that the approach was inclusive, evidence-informed and tailored to the Syrian context.

Moving forward, WHO will continue to promote the uptake of research and support the integration of findings into national health planning frameworks.

WHO receives US$ 3 million from CERF to deliver urgent health care across Syria amid continued humanitarian needs

Imprimer PDF

Four-month-old Walid receives treatment for severe cold symptoms at Kurin Health Center, supported by WHO through CERF to ensure continued pediatric care. Photo: WHOFour-month-old Walid receives treatment for severe cold symptoms at Kurin Health Center, supported by WHO through CERF to ensure continued pediatric care. Photo: WHO6 May 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – The World Health Organization (WHO) is expanding lifesaving health care for over half a million people across Syria with support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). A US$ 3 million allocation is helping WHO sustain essential medical services, disease surveillance and mental health care in governorates heavily affected by displacement and ongoing humanitarian needs. 

Over 15.8 million people across Syria need urgent humanitarian health support. Among them, an estimated 7.4 million people are still internally displaced, 69% living in host communities and 31% in camps. The health system is under immense strain, with only 59% of hospitals and 46% of primary health care centres fully functional. Essential medicines are limited, treatment costs are out of reach for many families and overcrowded shelters increase the risk of disease outbreaks. 

CERF’s support is enabling WHO and its health partners to deliver over 1.3 million treatment courses and more than 19,000 emergency health kits to health facilities nationwide. Nineteen mobile medical teams are providing direct care – consultations, referrals and follow-up – in underserved areas including Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hama, Deir-ez-Zor, Homs, Lattakia and rural Damascus. Mental health and psychosocial support services are also being expanded through key referral hospitals such as Azaz and Ibn Khaldun, targeting people affected by displacement and trauma. 

“This funding plays a vital role in enabling WHO to maintain emergency services and respond swiftly to health needs on the ground, particularly at this critical moment in Syria,” said Acting WHO Representative in Syria Christina Bethke. “CERF is a timely enabler of WHO’s response, its support helps us reach those most in need with lifesaving care at a time when needs are growing, and resources are stretched. This contribution ensures that even the most vulnerable are not left behind.” 

In line with its preparedness mandate, WHO is also reinforcing disease surveillance and public health preparedness at entry points. This includes upgrading infrastructure, supplying critical materials and training frontline health workers on health regulations and standards to enhance early detection and response to potential outbreaks. 

The 6-month initiative will directly benefit more than 530 000 people, including displaced populations – both IDPs and refugee returns, host communities and vulnerable families, and indirectly support around 5 million through improved systems and coverage. 

Media contacts:
 
In Damascus, Syria: Halah Kabash, Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.
In Gaziantep, Türkiye: Mrinalini Santhanam, Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.

World Immunization Week 2025: UNICEF and WHO support Syria’s Ministry of Health-led campaign to reach 3.4 million children

Imprimer PDF

The campaign focuses on reaching missed and zero-dose children with lifesaving vaccines across all 14 governorates 

World Immunization Week 2025: UNICEF and WHO support Syria’s Ministry of Health-led campaign to reach 3.4 million children21 April 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are supporting a nationwide immunization campaign led by the Ministry of Health to mark World Immunization Week in Syria, running from 21 to 30 April. 

Under the global theme “A Dose of Good News,” the campaign highlights the life-saving power of vaccines and their role in protecting children from preventable diseases across Syria’s 14 governorates. 

The Ministry of Health is spearheading a multiantigen vaccination campaign to assess the immunization status of approximately 3.4 million children under the age of five. Particular focus will be placed on reaching nearly 250 000 missed children, including 156 000 zero-dose children who have yet to receive any routine vaccines. 

“Vaccines are the safest and most powerful strategy to protect children from life-threatening diseases,” said Yasumasa Kimura, Representative, UNICEF in Syria.  “Through our partnership with Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance, Ministry of Health and WHO, this campaign is instrumental in addressing the gaps in immunization coverage and ensuring that children receive the vaccines they need to survive and thrive.” 

The campaign will mobilize more than 7600 health workers, including 3330 who will work as part of mobile teams to reach remote and underserved communities. Nearly 1200 vaccination sites and over 1,000 mobile teams will be activated across the country. 

To boost vaccine uptake, overcome hesitancy and help ensure every child is reached, more than 2000 trained mobilizers and volunteers from the Ministry of Health, with support from health partners, will be deployed across the country.  Working in coordination with local health directorates and community leaders, they will engage families to emphasize the importance of immunization and help connect families to services. 

“Vaccines are a child’s first line of defence against illness and death,” said Christina Bethke, Acting WHO Representative in Syria. “Together with UNICEF and Gavi, WHO is proud to support the Ministry of Health in reaching every last child with lifesaving vaccines.” 

WHO and UNICEF urge continued investment in immunization systems and policies that guarantee access for all children – no matter where they live. Protecting children against preventable diseases is a collective responsibility and the foundation of a healthier, more resilient future. 

For more information, contact:

UNICEF:
Monique Awad, Chief of Communication and Advocacy, UNICEF in Syria, email: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.
Hasan Burhan, Communication Officer, UNICEF in Syria, email: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.

WHO:
Halah Kabbash, Communication Officer, WHO Syria, email: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.

Mrinalini Santhanam, Communication Officer, WHO field office in Gaziantep, email: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir.  

About UNICEF: UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. And we never give up.  For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/syria/

Follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube 

About WHO: WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. We direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies. And we promote healthier lives – from pregnancy care through old age. Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes.

For more information about WHO, visit its website. 

Follow us on: Facebook, X, Instagram, Youtube

A matter of life and birth: On World Health Day, Syria’s mothers and newborns deserve more than survival

Imprimer PDF

Pediatric nurse Razan examines a young patient at a clinic in Homs, where she treats children with signs of malnutrition. Photo: WHOPediatric nurse Razan examines a young patient at a clinic in Homs, where she treats children with signs of malnutrition. Photo: WHO8 April 2025, Syrian Arab Republic – In the busy corridors of Al Amal Pediatric and Maternity Hospital in Azaz, Aleppo, every available chair — and many floor corners — have become makeshift waiting areas and treatment spaces. Nurses administer IV drips on benches; consultations take place wherever a bit of free space can be found. Overcrowding is the new normal. The outpatient and maternity services are running at over 30% above their intended capacity. 

But this surge isn’t only a crisis. It’s also a sign of hope. Following recent political developments in December, and the removal of a frontline that had separated communities for years, families from Aleppo city can now reach Azaz more safely. Many have come seeking quality maternity and pediatric care — and to reunite with relatives after years apart. 

They didn’t come because they were fleeing. They came because they finally could. What many may not know is that this hospital — like 246 others across northwestern and northeastern Syria  is at risk of shutting down.

Asliya’s choice 

Asliya Al-Hamoud holds her 2-month-old son as Dr. Mohammed Al Hamed, a pediatrician at Al Amal Hospital, conducts a follow-up check-up. Photo: WHOAsliya Al-Hamoud holds her 2-month-old son as Dr. Mohammed Al Hamed, a pediatrician at Al Amal Hospital, conducts a follow-up check-up. Photo: WHOWhen Asliya Al-Hamoud, 29, arrived at Al Amal with her two-month-old son Ahmad, she was terrified. He had a persistent cough. Within days, it progressed to pneumonia. Doctors admitted him immediately. 

“They told me, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll treat him freely,’” she recalls, her voice trembling. She stayed in the hospital for a week. By the time she left, Ahmad’s breathing had steadied — thanks to free medication and round-the-clock care. 

A mother of five, Asliya has been displaced twice — first from Deir-ez-Zor in 2017, and again from Eastern Ghouta in 2020. She compared her experience at Al Amal with a previous visit to a private hospital that charged her 150 USD. “We can’t afford that on a monthly household income of less than 200 USD,” she says. “If we can keep supporting public hospitals with medicines, we won’t need to go to private pharmacies.” 

Today, more than half of Syria’s health facilities are non-functional. Only 57% of hospitals and 37% of primary healthcare centers remain fully operational. While medical services struggle with shortages in supplies and outdated equipment, families like Asliya’s are also burdened by rising living costs, making it harder to access or afford consistent care.

Hadiya’s hands 

Midwife Hadiya, who supervises the maternity team at Al Amal Maternity and Child Hospital in Azaz, discusses a case with a fellow midwifeMidwife Hadiya, who supervises the maternity team at Al Amal Maternity and Child Hospital in Azaz, discusses a case with a fellow midwifeMidwife Hadiya Al-Hamouri, 52, has delivered babies during airstrikes, in basements, and under candlelight. She fled her hometown of Hama in 2012 and now lives and works in Azaz. 

“In the past, we used to go house to house to help women give birth,” she says. “It was too dangerous or too far for them to reach a hospital.” 

Today, it’s not insecurity keeping women away — it’s funding cuts and facility closures. And while Hadiya has three decades of experience, even she is struggling to meet the growing needs. 

“Sometimes we don’t have the tools to test for infections or complications. The need is growing. Displaced women keep coming. They trust us, but we’re running out of support.” 

In many parts of Syria, women still arrive late in labor, without any prenatal checkups. The lack of early screening means preventable complications — bleeding, infections, hypertension — can escalate quickly. With trained staff like Hadiya, these risks can be managed. But only if women can access care in time. 

Yasmin’s hope 

Yasmin undergoes a routine mammogram during her maternity visit at Al Amal Hospital in Azaz. Photo: WHOYasmin undergoes a routine mammogram during her maternity visit at Al Amal Hospital in Azaz. Photo: WHOYasmin, 32, lives in Aleppo city with her sister and their children. She traveled to Al Amal and received the care she needed — respectful, efficient, and free. 

But back home, things are harder. “You need to know someone to get an appointment,” she says. “Public hospitals are overcrowded. You wait weeks for an appointment. My sister had to pay an ambulance just to get to a center — and then they asked for more money when she arrived.” 

It’s not just inconvenient. It’s dangerous. The delays, referral barriers, and high cost of transport put maternal and newborn health at risk — especially for low-income and displaced families. 

Yasmin is one of over 273,000 mothers who received infant feeding counselling last year through WHO-supported programmes. But that lifeline may not last. Continued funding cuts could reduce these services when families need them most. 

A nurse’s perspective 

Pediatric nurse Razan smiles at the camera between consultations at her clinic in Homs. Photo: WHOPediatric nurse Razan smiles at the camera between consultations at her clinic in Homs. Photo: WHOIn Homs, pediatric nurse Razan sees the long-term consequences of disrupted care. Her clinic regularly treats children with severe malnutrition — the result of families unable to access early feeding support or afford formula milk. 

“Formula is expensive. Some mothers use starch water or herbs instead,” she says. The results are visible: thin limbs, pale skin, fatigue, and stunted growth. 

With WHO support, over 1 million children under five were screened for malnutrition in 2024. But Razan is quick to emphasize: “If we want to stop malnutrition, we have to support the mother first.” Moreover, WHO’s plans to expand baby-friendly hospitals and establish breastfeeding corners in specialized infant care facilities have been delayed due to funding cuts—leaving mothers and infants even more vulnerable. This underlines the urgent need for sustained investment to protect these essential services. 

In rural Hama 

A mobile medical team from Al-Birr Association visits Samira at her home in rural Hama to provide prenatal care. Photo: WHOA mobile medical team from Al-Birr Association visits Samira at her home in rural Hama to provide prenatal care. Photo: WHOIn a remote village near Al-Talisiyah, Samira Khaled, 26, had missed her period for four months. She was pale, fatigued, and unsure if she was pregnant — or simply unwell. There was no clinic nearby. She couldn't afford to travel. 

When a mobile medical team from Al-Birr Association visited her community, they confirmed her pregnancy with an ultrasound. They also diagnosed anemia, prescribed iron and calcium supplements, and scheduled her for follow-up care. 

Without that visit, her pregnancy, as well as her anemia, might have gone undetected — putting her at greater risk for complications, including life-threatening post-partum hemorrhage. 

A fragile future 

What keeps health workers in Syria going is the belief that every life — every mother, every newborn — matters. 

But what keeps them up at night is this: Today, Syria’s maternal mortality rate stands at 60 deaths per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortality at 11 deaths per 1,000 live births. Without urgent and sustained support, maternal and newborn care in Syria will unravel. Clinics will close. Ambulances will stop. Hospitals will shutter. And women and children will pay the ultimate price. 

On this World Health Day, we’re reminded that ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths isn’t a global ambition. It’s a moral obligation. 

In Syria, it’s a promise worth keeping.

Plus d'articles...

Page 6 sur 215